toptop
Liverpool
and Chelsea played out a goalless draw as the recent struggles of both teams
were laid bare on a cold afternoon at Anfield.
Kai Havertz had an early goal disallowed for offside but the game failed to
ignite thereafter. Mykhailo Mudryk did impress for Chelsea off the bench
following his move from Shakhtar Donetsk and had a number of opportunities to
mark the occasion with a goal.
But the two teams remain locked level on points in midtable. Jurgen Klopp's side
have to settle for ending their two-game losing streak in the Premier League,
while Graham Potter's side are now on a run of six matches away from home
without a win in the competition.
Player ratings
Liverpool: Alisson (7), Milner (5), Gomez (6), Konate (6),
Robertson (7), Bajcetic (5), Thiago (6), Keita (5), Elliott (5), Salah (5),
Gakpo (5).
Subs: Nunez (6), Alexander-Arnold (6), Henderson (6), Jones
(6), Fabinho (5).
Chelsea: Kepa (7), Hall (6), Chalobah (6), Silva (8),
Badiashile (6), Cucurella (6), Jorginho (6), Gallagher (7), Mount (6), Ziyech
(7), Havertz (6).
Subs: Mudryk (7), Aubameyang (6), Azpilicueta (6), Chukwuemeka
(6).
Player of the match: Thiago Silva.
How the game unfolded at Anfield
It was almost a dramatic start when Havertz thought he had scored following a
corner but the replays showed he was clearly offside when Thiago Silva struck
the post with the initial attempt. The Brazilian's effort would have been
allowed if he had found the net.
That disallowed goal proved a sign of things to come with Liverpool struggling
to deal with the set-pieces. It was a feature of the game with Benoit Badiashile
almost opening the scoring just after the half-hour mark only for Alisson to
save from close range.
Liverpool looked nervous and they were wasteful in attack too. Cody Gakpo, still
searching for his first goal for the club, blazed over twice, while the usually
reliable Mohamed Salah either miskicked wildly or curled the ball over tamely
when in his favourite zone.
It was an error-strewn affair, a stray pass here, a ball miscontrolled there. It
was surprising given the quality of the players but perhaps to be expected given
the form of the two teams. Languishing in midtable, confidence is clearly
lacking, everything looks a struggle.
Mudryk changed the mood somewhat, all flicks, tricks and purposeful passing. He
skinned James Milner for pace, forcing Klopp to swiftly send for Trent
Alexander-Arnold, but even Mudryk did not bring the breakthrough, wasting two
good chances on the angle.
Potter will take the positives from that and hope the new signing can be a
catalyst for further improvement. Klopp, in his 1000th game in management, is
still searching for something that works. Neither side are showing the form
needed to trouble the top four.
The game in stats
Liverpool and Chelsea have now played out three consecutive goalless draws in
all competitions.
This is the first time that Liverpool have failed to score in consecutive
Premier League games since March 2021.
Chelsea are now without a win in their last six Premier League games on the
road, their longest run in the competition since 2015.
Jurgen Klopp took charge of the 1,000th game of his managerial career (441 with
Liverpool, 319 with Borussia Dortmund and 270 with Mainz).
Since his first season in the Premier League, no manager has overseen more
goalless draws than Graham Potter (16), at least twice as many as any other
manager.
Since his debut for Liverpool, no Premier League player has had more shots
without scoring in all competitions than Cody Gakpo (12).
Stefan Bajcetic is the youngest player to start a Premier League game for
Liverpool since Ben Woodburn and the youngest Spaniard for any Premier League
side since Cesc Fabregas.
Cesar Azpilicueta today made his 500th appearance for Chelsea in all
competitions, becoming the first non-English player to reach that milestone for
the club.
What's next?
Liverpool turn their attention to the FA Cup, where they visit Brighton on
January 29, kick-off 1.30pm. Their next Premier League game is a trip to Wolves
on February 4; kick-off 3pm.
Jurgen Klopp's side then have a very busy February which includes a Merseyside
derby at home to Everton, live on Monday Night Football. Liverpool also travel
to Newcastle and Crystal Palace in that month, either side of hosting Real
Madrid in the Champions League last-16.
Chelsea have next weekend off as they were eliminated from the FA Cup in the
third round at Man City. Their next game is a west London derby at home to
Fulham, live on Friday Night Football on February 3.
The Blues have two London derbies to contend with in February, travelling to
West Ham and Tottenham at the start and end of the month. Their other games in
February see them host Southampton and travel to Borussia Dortmund in the
Champions League last-16.
Teams
Liverpool Alisson, Milner (c) (Alexander-Arnold 72), Gomez,
Konate, Robertson, Bajcetic (Fabinho 82), Thiago, Keita (Nunez 63), Elliott
(Henderson 82), Gakpo (Jones 82), Salah
Subs Not Used Kelleher, Matip, Tsimikas, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Booked Bajcetic, Milner, Jones
Goals
Chelsea Kepa, Chalobah (Azpilicueta 81), Badiashile, Silva,
Cucurella, Jorginho (c), Gallagher, Ziyech, Mount (Chukwuemeka 82), Hall (Mudryk
55), Havertz Aubameyang 81)
Subs Not Used Bettinelli, Humphreys, Koulibaly, Loftus-Cheek,
D. Fofana
Booked Chalobah
Goals
Attendance 53,126
Referee Michael Oliver
VAR John Brooks